Happy Holidays

Wishing everyone who has developed in interest in what I have to share through the written word a very special holiday season.    I hope in some way. this year, I have offered inspiration where it was need. I hope thoughts were provoked and lives were changed through what I have shared.  For me, writing  heals the wounds that life inflicts.  Being able to express my feelings has made the challenges and disappointments of life easier to bear.

I am still working on my book.  I am debating whether or not to continue the blog for another year.  I will advise you of that decision later.  Once again, happy holidays.

He is There

At Christmas time,
 it is easy to become disheartened
by circumstance,
A broken romance,
The loss of house and home,
Feeling lonely and alone
Or being far away
From family and friends
on Christmas day.
But no matter where we are,
or what we have to endure,
Our faith in him is secure.
Wherever we are, he is there.
We can feel his presence surrounding us
On a lonely highway or deserted hill.
In the quiet and still,
We can hear him whispering
I am here.
The spirit of Christmas resides in the heart
of every man, woman, boy and girl,
All around the world.
Christmas is not about where we are or how we feel
It's not about a place.
He never stops showering us with his amazing grace.
His joy abounds
All around.
So, when you feel yourself becoming
sad and disheartened,
Remember this,
At the center of the Christmas season is a Savior
Who doesn't need a Christmas list
To grant our every wish.
He has already given us the greatest gift anyone can give.
In him, we live,
breathe and have our being.
Without him, Christmas would have no meaning.
If we call him, he will answer,
wherever we are,
Near or far;
From the hospital bed,
From the desert of Iraq,
from the homeless shelter,
On skid row,
From a cold dark jail cell,
Or from the make shift home under the freeway.
His love and mercy will never go away.
He is everywhere.
Wherever you are, he is there.

Copyright P. Newman Harris
2013

The Death of a President

I remember November 22, 1963 as if it were yesterday.  I can remember exactly where I was when the death of President John F. Kennedy was announced.  I remember the shock and disbelief, the inevitable acceptance of the reality that he was gone, and the grief that followed a long time after.

I was a young black girl in high school at the time, but I felt the loss as if he was a member of our family.  We had come to know and love him as a man of compassion, understanding, determination and integrity.   I had heard many people say he was a breath of fresh air to a nation that was dying from the cancer of racism; that he represented hope for a cure to that seemingly incurable disease, and finally that he was their light in the midst of darkness

As a teenager, having grown up in the south, there was a depth and understanding, to me,  could only come from having experienced racism first hand.  I could sense the deep hopelessness that my parents felt at the time of the President's assassination, but I could never really know all that they felt.   Having lived in the south most of their life, they had experienced far more years of racism than I had experienced in my short years on this earth.

Looking back on that day, I can now understand the depth and extent of their grief as they watched President Kennedy's body proceed to Arlington National Cemetery and listened to the final taps echo in the distant sky.   I now know that they wept and grieved the death of a promise of hope that was buried on that fated day in 1963.

Happy Veteran's Day..Salute to Soldiers far and Near

Throughout time men have fought tirelessly for
the sake of peace.
It is my dream that one day wars will cease.
I may not see this dream come to pass
But I know one day it will come to be.
Every man's reality
To all who have fought towards that cause,
We now pause
We pause and we salute
Your courage, your bravery,
And the commitment you have honored.
Giving honor where honor is due,
We say thank you.

Mighty Warrior

In a day of many freedoms, we still struggle,against the straight jacket
of racism in many forms.   To all who continue the struggle, stay encouraged.   Especially my brothers and sisters who are incarcerated, this poem is for you.



On the day you were born,
You became a mighty warrior,
for that, my brother, was the day
your struggle began.
Some would say there is no struggle,
because for them, there is none
that their eyes can see.
They would have you believe
that you are completely free,
but there are invisible chains
imposed by society
The chains that bind have not
completely been overcome.
The work is not done.
As long as we are succumbing to
drugs, alcohol and gang warfare,
The chains are still there!
I know you have had to stand
against adversity all your life.
You may feel as if you are losing the fight,
But you must not surrender to defeat.
Stay on your feet!
There is a paved road to freedom.
You can overcome!
You have inherited a spirit of courage,
endurance and strength from those
who have gone before
You too can open determination's door.
You were born a warrior and warriors stand their ground.
You no longer have to be bound.
Stand tall and fight a courageous battle
Strong black warrior.
You will win!

copyright by Patricia Newman Harris

Bigger Dreams

I am currently taking a break to work on my next book project entitled Living the Dream.  So, I won't be posting as often.

Here is a preview poem from that collection:

Bigger Dreams

You asked to be a princess,

But God made you a queen.

He will surpass what you think he can do.

He will make all your dreams come true.

Before you were birthed

Before you came to this earth,

He had already created your destiny.

God can take you places you have never seen

He can make you a king or a queen.

He can bless you with riches untold

There is no good thing he will withhold.

There was a little girl who asked God to bless.

He did more than bless.

He made her known in every country and land.

His plans for her surpassed those of any man

They were bigger than any she could see

That little girl was Oprah Winfrey.

He who has created the oceans and seas

And sends the breeze to ruffle the trees,

Will he not take care of you and me?

If he used Maya Angelou,

He can use you.

Out of the rubbles of life

Can come a bright shining light.

Once hurt and abused,

You can still be used

What was meant for bad,

God can make good

He knows the name of every child in the hood.

He can transcend time and space

He is bigger than any obstacle we face.

You asked to be a princess,

But God wanted to make you a queen.

His dreams for us are bigger than anything we have seen.

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris

Remember 911

Today, I would like to take a moment to remember each one that died...and every person who lost a loved one or was touched in someway by the events of that day.

It is a day that is etched in my mind forever, and I am sure almost every single American feels the same way.
I feel is if it was one day when, as American's we all became one...  On that day, there were no differences between us..each of us felt the same loss and the same pain.  If we could but remember this.  There really are no differences between us.  We all love, we hurt, and we suffer loss.  On 9/11, as a nation we experienced a collective loss and we shared the pain of that loss together.  We are one body, and as such, when one part of the body experiences something, everyone should feel it.  Such a connection should transcend all barriers, whether, racially, religiously or politically based.  Our first consideration should be what is best for our nation.  If we can get to that place, there will be no obstacle we can't overcome together.

Oh What a Day It Will Be

Someday, the clouds of hate will roll away.

We will forget the hurts of our past

And be free at last.

There will be no suffering for anyone

No guns,

No wars to fight.

One day I know we will get there.

One day sunny and fair

We will walk in the light

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be

For you and me.

All confusion, doubt and suspicions

Based on race

Will be erased.

We will put our differences aside

And walk together with pride.

No tears to cry,

No rivers of sorrow to sail.

Peace will prevail.

By and by, when the morning comes,

We will live as one

Darkness will no longer be our fate.

There will be no barriers of hate

Someday,

Not far away,

We will lift our eyes to the sky

The flag of peace will fly

Can you see it?

Can you feel it in the air?

We’re almost there.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Someday, the clouds of hate will roll away,

We will forget the hurts of our past.                                    

And be free at last

From every hillside and plain,

Love will rain.

One day sunny and fair 

We will get there

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be.

Oh what a day it will be

For you and me.

copyright P. Newman-Harris

Back to School Thoughts

Sorry for the delay in posting.  I took a vacation break.  I did, however, want to post a few words for those returning to school.   First, I'd like to wish you all an enjoyable, educational, productive and exciting school year.  Remember, how you  begin determines how you will end.    You deserve nothing less than your best.   Don't let anyone else determine your destiny.  You are the driver in the seat of life.  Make your own choice; listen to your own voice.  No one can treasure you, respect, you and love you better than you.

Young boy, young girl,

One day you can change the world.

To make your dream come true,

You have to believe in you.

It does not matter what people say.

God can make a way out of no way.

If you have a dream to pursue,

Don’t let others discourage you.

because they can’t see what you see,

Doesn’t mean it cannot be.

I may say it's a waste of time,

But your dream is not mine.

Your vision doesn’t belong to me.

It may be more than my eyes can see.

Through the winds of doubt, persevere.

You can’t run away and disappear.

The way may be cloudy, but one day it will become clear.

Then, you will know your dream is near.

Even when others say it is not so,

You will know.

You will see your dreams finally come true.

Keep pressing until you break through.

One day your dreams will come true.

Just believe in you.

copyright Patricia Newman-Harris